1. Receiving God's Promises - 7th
March 2016
“Andmy Godwill meet all your needs accordingto the riches of hisglory in ChristJesus” (Philippians
4:19).
How many times have you claimed this promise and wondered if it will work for you? Does the
Bible not say that we can ask God for what we need and He will supply it? Yes the Bible does
say that. There are however some things we sometimes overlook. Here are six steps we need to
look at when we decide we are going to claima promise from God;
Firstly when we claimon Gods promises we need to carefully understand Gods Promises
without jumping in to our own assumptions. Especially when we are referring to God’s
promises we need to consider it carefully because if we do not then we may end up with a
wrong assumption. Because if one is expecting the moon but only see a lamp post, that person
will be disappointed and over a time may even drift away from God. As examples we can look
at Verse Philippians 4:19 and ask yourself does it say that God will supply “all your wants? No; it
says all your needs! A need is something that is necessary for a person, family, an organization
or even a country to live a healthy life. It is a motivating force that compels action for its
satisfaction. We may ‘want’ many things…but the real needs will be way different. Therefore
we need to carefully look at what we are asking for and realistically examine our motivation. Is
this something I simply feel that I “simply want”, or is it something that God surely knows that it
is a dire need for me. When our need is clear it can be specific when we pray to Him for His
provision.
Secondly we need to look at the Premise. This refers to the principal on which the promise is
made. ‘What is the premise’ for example in the above passage Paul writes to the Philippians
stating that God will meet all your need? In order to understand its premise we need to go back
a few verses to see the background to get a clear understanding of the principal. We can learn
from Philippians 4:15-16, “Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your
acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me
in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica,
you sent me aid more than once when I was in need.” When Paul says God will supply their
need, he knows that the Philippians Church had taken from the little they had to help the work
of God through Paul’s missionary outreach. When we wish to claimsupply of our need from
God, we need to understand that God is no man’s debtor. Paul knew that God had ‘riches in
glory’. God is able to meet any need for He created everything and all the riches of earth are at
His disposal.
Thirdly as Christians we also need to look at the Practicality of one’s Faith on the claimwe wish
to make of Gods promise. Simply if one states that I have faith like many say today, it is not
faith at all. We can read from Hebrews 11:3, “By faith we understand that the universe was
formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” As an
example do you have faith in believing that the Universe was formed by God? If one steadfastly
belies in this, then you know for certain that God is so powerful that He can do anything! We
2. need to have that assurance’ or ‘confidence’ that “He can”. But as Christians we must also
know that it will be done within His plan for what we need and not simply what we want. We
can learn further when we read Hebrews 1:3, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the
exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word’. All things can be
made possible by His powerful word!
Next we need to look at the Power of God. We need to understand the foundation of faith is
based on the person and character of our God. Hebrews 11:3 declares God is Omnipotent.
“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things
which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” So we learn that if God is God and
our creator and as such we need to know for certain that, He can do anything…but only if He
believes that what we are praying for is in fact needed for the better good and not simply a
“want”! Furthermore, We also need to look at the Provision of God. As Christians we need to be
certain that God is not only able but willing to meet our needs. This is what the rest of Hebrews
chapter 11 teaches all about faith in action. The writer lists people small and great who
experienced God’s intervention in their lives in times of need. He is teaching us that God is
willing to meet the need of those who have a relationship with Him.
Importantly we also look at what Pleases God. We can learn in Hebrews 11:6, “And without
faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he
exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him..” Faith is the thing that we have to
exercise as we approach the Lord. We have learned that through our faith we absolutely know
that God is able and is willing to help you.
Therefore as Christians when we claimon Gods promises, we must know that it is based on
your approaching the Lord and is based first on your relationship. Second on knowing He can do
anything, because as verse 11 says, ‘He is’ and thirdly that He rewards them that diligently seek
Him. Therefore we have to carefully seek the Lord on the basis of your relationship and your
heartfelt understanding that you have committed yourself to the purposes of God in your life.
You know that He can and is willing to meet your need as His child; as you are walking in
obedience to His will. ”You have declared this day that the LORD is your God and that you will
walk in obedience to him, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws—that you will
listen to him” (Deuteronomy 26:17).
3. “And my God will meet all your needs according to the
riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
